Sarah Palin Speaking Fees Kept Secret to Curtail Negative News Coverage of University Event

May 11, 2010 — -- The speaking fee headed to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for a scheduled June speech at a California State University was kept secret in order to spare the university from more negative coverage, according to internal emails released by a state lawmaker Tuesday.

The decision not to share the fee, despite requests for details from state officials and members of the media, came following a lengthy exchange between CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and Bernie Swain, chairman of the Washington Speakers Bureau, which handles Palin's paid speaking engagements.

"The release of the fee, while well-intentioned to share all details, will likely only serve as the financial headline for a new round of stories rather than the intended purpose of clearing the air and making the stories go away," Swain advises Reed. "Your event needs fewer story lines, less oxygen for the fuel, not more."

Reed responded: "Bernie, I agree with you that the damage is done and the disclosure will just cause another round of newspaper stories. The campus should have worked this through with you all in the beginning."

After the chancellor shared the exchange with other university officials, Kristen Olsen, who heads the Stanislaus campus public relations office, responded: "Good news. The Chancellor is satisfied now with not disclosing the fee."

CLICK HERE TO READ THE EMAILS

University officials told ABC News that the emails are somewhat misleading because the conversation began with personal appeal the chancellor made to Palin's representative to be able to disclose the speaking fee.

"He asked whether they would consider waiving the fee," said Claudia Keith, a CSU spokeswoman. "Frankly, the chancellor would have preferred to send out the contract himself. But they said no."

Swain has not responded to a message and email seeking comment.

Questions about how much Palin is getting to speak at a function sponsored by the quasi-public fundraising arm of the state school have been roiling for several weeks.

READ SARAH PALIN'S CONTRACT HERE

Last month, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. said his office was looking into accusations that officials at a state university violated public records laws when they refused to reveal the financial details of the contract with Palin to speak at the June fundraiser, and allegedly shredded documents related to the agreement.